Nellie Kruger

Nellie Grace (Draxton) Kruger was born March 27, 1918 in Cedar Mills, MN to Anton and Emma Draxton. She was baptized on April 21 of that same year at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cosmos, MN. Confirmation of her faith took place on May 6, 1931 at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Litchfield, MN. Nellie received her education in rural elementary school and graduated from Litchfield High School in 1936. Growing up in the Litchfield, MN area Nellie enjoyed working with her 4-H Club. Her summer days were filled with spending time at the lake with high school friends and playing kitten ball with her team, the Fleas. She organized the county softball league to ensure there were plenty of games for her to play during the summer months. Experience working as a telephone operator in Litchfield enabled her to travel to Virginia, where her brother was stationed in the Navy during WWII, and continue working as a telephone operator. Upon her return to Minnesota she married Walter Kruger On December 16, 1943. They then lived and worked on a farm 2 miles north of Clara City, MN. The union was blessed with three children, Polly, Jenell and Billie Ann. As an active part of the Clara City community, which included employment at the Clara City Care Center where she lent her hand in artistry, cooking, baking and clerical work. As a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church she contributed her artistic talents of drawing, calligraphy, quilting, banner making, and wood carving to enrich the lives of those around her. She actively participated in the Ladies Organization acting as president on numerous occasions. She also enjoyed her time teaching Sunday school. Many of NellieÂ?s drawings were later published in a book Â?Treasured MemoriesÂ?.Nellie took great pride in her role at Wing-Bain Funeral Home for over 50 years. She embraced her role as caretaker of the facility and extended the caretaker gentility to each person that entered through the doors mourning the loss of a loved one.Outside of spending time with her family, favorite moments in life were times she spent in nature: painting on the side of a mountain at Holden Village, whale watching on a cruise to Alaska, golfing, and even enjoyed the simple task of mowing the lawn. Nellie was blessed with the ability to make friends very easily; a visit with Nellie meant a good cup of coffee and a cookie accompanied with witty conversation. Her love for children was not drawn with a line at her family. Children were always a main subject of her art work and she embraced and thirsted for the company of little ones, admiring their sweet sense of wonder. Nellie always took great pride in the accomplishments of her children and their spouses: Polly and Mary Sue Kruger of Montevideo, MN, Jenell and Paul Barth of Kimberly, WI, and Billie Ann Kruger and William Hibbs of Miami, FL. Her pride grew with her grandchildren, those they married and her great grand children: Joshua and Andrea Mills and their two children, Isaac and Erika, John and Lindsay Mills and their two sons Austin and Eli, Kaye Mills, Julie (Kruger) and Travis DeJong and their children Ashley and Aiden, David Kruger, Patrick and Emily Kruger. Nellie is also survived by her sister Helen Marie (Draxton) and Gene Sexton. Other close family includes Mary Jo Heins, Bruce Tammen, and Lizz Hutchinson along with many nieces, nephews.Nellie managed to live on her own to the age of 92. This was only possible with the aid of loving neighbors and friends that extended their love and care to her and she was always very grateful for the time they gave and the friendship shared. On April 3, 2012 at the age of 94 Nellie passed away during a restful sleep at the care center in Clara City, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anton and Emma Draxton, her husband Walter Kruger, brother Merill Draxton, sister Clara (Draxton) Wilmot, sister Annette (Draxton) Liedman and brother Erle Draxon.